MELBOURNE, Australia — With a vocal crowd cheering her on, Ronda Rousey had some fighting words for Holly Holm less than two months before their UFC bantamweight title bout in Melbourne on Nov. 15.

At a hype-filled promotional event filled with more MMA fans than media, Rousey, when asked if she had seen much of Australia’s second-largest city, replied: &quot;I wish I had a chance do some more touristy things. After I beat Holly I will have some time.&quot;

Rousey (12-0) will make her seventh title defence against Holm (9-0), the boxing champion from New Mexico, in the headlining bout at Etihad Stadium.

Rousey has become one of the most prominent U.S. female athletes while winning her last three bouts in a combined 64 seconds. In her last so-called fight, she stopped Bethe Correia in 34 seconds on Aug. 1.

Holm underscored Rousey’s form, saying on Wednesday that against Rousey she would take it &quot;one second at a time.&quot;

&quot;Mentally, a lot of things that I’ve gone through fighting against some of the best in the world in boxing, has given me that confidence that I’m going to be able to deal with coming in as an underdog,&quot; Holm said.

Rousey was scheduled to defend her bantamweight title against Holm on Jan. 2 in Las Vegas, but a thumb injury to welterweight champion Robbie Lawler changed the UFC’s schedule.

Lawler was slated to defend his title against Carlos Condit in the main event at UFC 193 at Etihad Stadium, which will seat more than 55,000. Due to the time difference, the live pay-per-view event will be broadcast in the United States on Nov. 14.

&quot;What makes Holly such an intriguing challenger for me is that I’ve been watching her since the day she started in the ring,&quot; Rousey said. &quot;I have known that our paths were going to cross at some point. I know that if there’s a 19-time boxing world champion coming into my sport, I have my eye on her.

&quot;She’s been really impressive with how she’s adapted to MMA from pure boxing to head-kick knockouts. I know she’s the type of fighter that I want to test myself against. I still have more to prove, and Holly is one more person that I’m going to prove myself against.&quot;

Rousey criticized the suspension of fellow UFC competitor Nick Diaz for marijuana use. This week, the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned the welterweight fighter for five years because of a third marijuana-related offence.

&quot;It’s so not right for him to be suspended (for) five years for marijuana,&quot; Rousey said. &quot;I’m against them even testing for weed at all. It’s not a performance-enhancing drug … it’s only tested for political reasons.&quot;

The Melbourne card will be the first to feature women headlining the program.

&quot;In the history of combat sports, this has never been done,&quot; UFC president Dana White said at the news conference.

The UFC 193 main card will also feature a strawweight title bout between Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk (10-0) and Montreal native Valerie Letourneau (8-3).

&quot;It’s the biggest challenge, definitely, of my career. I’ve been in martial arts so long. I’ve been working so hard,&quot; said Letourneau. &quot;I won’t miss my chance.&quot;

Jedrzejczyk was initially set to face Claudia Gadelha but a hand injury forced her to the sideline. No matter, said the champion. Whether it’s previous opponents like Carla Esparza and Jessica Penne, potential challengers such as Gadelha or Maryna Moroz, or current contender Letourneau, she insists she’s ready to face them all.

“I am a champion. I can not wait for challengers,” said Jedrzejczyk.

&quot;I’m full of respect to Valerie but all of them, they are on the same level. The same is gonna happen to her what happened to Carla and Jessica Penne … I’m happy that I’m gonna fight with Valerie.”

Letourneau says her striking and size will be unlike any opponent Jedrzejczyk has faced.

Said Letourneau: &quot;I’m going to take her to places she’s never been before in UFC.&quot;

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